Speechless, Gwen’s let her mouth gape open as she stared at Kyle, his lips quirked in a mischievous grin.

“Are you going to invite me in?” he asked when Gwen remained silent. “You look like a deer caught in the headlights.”

“I have a bit more to do before I am ready to leave, so I’ll give you two some privacy.” Beth touched Kyle’s forearm, then stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Good to see you. I know once she gets over the shock, Gwen will think so too.”

“Coward.” Gwen said, then gave her head a rough shake and motioned to Kyle with a wave of her hand. “Come in. I didn’t mean to be rude, but you took me by surprise. A good surprise,” she quickly added. “When we spoke on the phone two days ago, you never mentioned you were coming.”

“I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.” Kyle strode into the room, then immediately snaked his arm around her waist and drew Gwen against his chest.

Despite her effort to hold back, she giggled as he feathered kisses along her cheek before teasing the seam of her mouth with his tongue, willing her to open to his sweet invasion. She closed her eyes, a soft whimper of pleasure escaping her lips as they parted, granting him entry. Her head began to swim, her heart hammered, and moist heat pooled between her thighs—the way it always did whenever he touched or kissed her. Knees weak, she clung to his sweater and leaned closer, taking in his intoxicating male scent, savoring the feel of his loving embrace.

Finding herself lost in a euphoric fog and quickly losing the ability to think, she cursed beneath her breath at her weakness, placed her hands on his chest, and peered into eyes that were not only as blue as the sky, but brimming with passion. It was moments like this when she wondered how she could have any reservations about Kyle. Not only was he devastatingly handsome, but he was sweet, generous, and even when she was having a bad day, he could always make her smile with his quirky sense of humor and abundance of corny jokes.

It would be so easy to throw caution to the wind, accept his proposal, and jump into bed without giving it a second thought. Unfortunately, life and love weren’t that simple, and until she explored her feelings and the dreams from her childhood completely, she couldn’t give herself to him one hundred percent. She hoped that being in Scotland might shed some light on why she’d been so obsessed with the country and its past for as long as she could remember, and often felt like she belonged in another place and time. But so far she was as confused as ever.

“Did you like the earrings? I can’t wait to see you wearing them,” he growled seductively in her ear. “The earrings and nothing else.”

When he tried to tighten his embrace and kiss her again, she eased free of his grasp and took a step back, her eyes now focused on the wall behind him. It was impossible to speak her mind when she was lost in his mesmerizing gaze. “The earrings are lovely. I’ll cherish them always, but I’m confused about one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“While I am pleased to see you, I thought we agreed to celebrate my birthday when I got back to the States.”

“You decided, Gwen. I love you and I just wanted to make you happy. I agreed to stay behind, but secretly hoped you would change your mind and ask me to come along.”

“I didn’t think the clinic could spare you.”

Kyle shrugged. “It has been months since I had a full weekend off and I told Grandfather it was important. Occasionally, there are perks of working in a clinic where the administrator is a relative. I also promised to be back first thing Monday morning, so we only have today and tomorrow.”

“That isn’t much time. You’ll be on your way home before you know it.”

“You’re worth it. Besides, there is a lot we can do in forty-eight hours.” He nodded at the bed and playfully patted her behind, before trying again to capture her in an embrace. 

After dodging his attempt, Gwen dipped her hand into her pocket, took out a pair of castle-shaped tickets, and showed them to Kyle. “While the idea of spending the day in bed with you sounds tempting, Beth and I have booked a tour of ancient castles today and we are already running late. In fact, one of the stops is at the stronghold of your MacKay ancestors. Unfortunately these had to be purchased in advance and we only have two. If I’d known you were coming, I—”

Kyle pressed two fingers to her lips, then took her hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed each of her fingertips in turn. “No worries, sweetheart. I figured you might have already   made plans and I have to admit that after pulling a double yesterday, then taking the Redeye, I’m feeling the jetlag. While the two of you tour the ruins, I’ll get some sleep.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek, then raised his head, grinning. “But when you get back, I hope you’ll let me tag along and help you to celebrate your birthday.”

“I’d like that.” Gwen smiled, but refrained from making direct eye contact. Kyle had a way of setting her world on end and turning her insides to mush with a simple glance and, if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up foregoing the castle tour.

“I asked Beth not to fuss, but she did make reservations at The Copper Mug, a quaint inn that only serves Scottish fare, locally brewed ales, and whisky. I’ll get her to call them before we go and have them add you.”

“Sure you won’t join me?” Kyle said as he attempted to steer her toward the bed. “I’m sure Beth would forgive you.”

Gwen planted her feet and refused to move. “We have to go. You get some rest and I’ll see you when I get back.” She returned his playful pat on the behind and kiss on the cheek.

“All set. Are you ready to leave, Gwen?” Beth appeared in the doorway, then hesitated. “Unless there has been a change of plans.”

“No changes. I’m ready to go.” Gwen couldn’t have been happier with Beth’s timing. Taking full advantage of the interruption, she quickly brushed Kyle’s lips with her own, then eased from his grasp. “We should be home by six. Get some rest.” After grabbing a jacket and dropping her cell phone into her purse, she left the room with Beth in tow.

~ * ~

As expected, the tours of the castles were amazing. Gwen found herself captivated by not only the history behind each one, but the tales of Scottish lore. The myths and legends had her enthralled—especially the ones surrounding Samhain rituals, and how it was the day of the year when fairies, witches, and other strange creatures crossed over from the netherworld and walked the earth.

The final estate on the tour was that of the small, yet once powerful Clan MacQuin, and unlike the others, the minute she entered the grounds, Gwen felt a strange sense of familiarity. While she’d never been there before, she’d swear she had, and that she was being summoned by an unknown force she couldn’t explain.

When the tour concluded, Gwen wandered around the visitor orientation area—a wattle and daub building that was situated at the entrance to the castle ruins, which housed artifacts and portraits of the former inhabitants. She paused before the painting of Laird MacQuin, his wife, Lady Lilith, and a brooding dark-haired boy who, according to the tour guide, was their son Damen. “Not a very happy looking family,” Gwen said.

The guide joined her by the portrait. “As I mentioned during the tour, Lady Lilith was forced to marry her husband, and had she not given him a son when she did, could have ended up in the dungeon, or worse—dead—while the laird took a mistress to give him what he wanted. Some believed she sought the aid of a seer and witch to get pregnant,” the guide said. “The lad was their only bairn and grew up to be a reclusive, cruel, vindictive man, and even worse tempered than his da.” 

“Poor Lady Lilith.” Her heart gave a tug. “I can only imagine what it was like to live during medieval times.”  

The guard shook his head. “It wasna an easy life in those days, especially for women. Did you know a husband could beat his wife and na be punished, and a woman often had no say in who she married, as long as she was able to breed?”

“Having no say in who you marry and basically being your husband’s property, would have been horrible.” The mere thought of it made Gwen cringe and she thanked the Lord that she had a choice. “I’m sure glad things are different in the twenty-first century.”

“So am I,” Beth said. “A world without beauty parlors, nail salons, designer clothes, cell phones, and non-fat lattes is unthinkable.” She closed her eyes and shuddered. “And don’t even get me started on the subservient wife thing.”

“Being a modern thinker and a professional woman, I don’t believe I would have been able to keep my opinions to myself,” Gwen replied. “But I have always had a fascination with the era.”

“There was the option of going to the priory,” the guide suggested, then sauntered off to speak to another person on the tour.

“I’m not sure becoming a nun would have been the answer either,” Gwen muttered aloud. She couldn’t help feeling sorry for Lady Lilith’s plight, and when she returned her attention to the portrait, her heart began to pound and she suddenly found it difficult to catch her breath. Her eyes fixed on the lady’s face, she couldn’t shake the feeling she knew this woman, and when she noticed a small silver and emerald Celtic pin on her gown, Gwen gaped in disbelief. The brooch was identical to the one her mother had given her when she turned sixteen. She’d been told the pin was a family heirloom, and it was something she cherished and wore often—including now.

“I shouldn’t have been so vain and wish I’d followed your lead by dressing more casually. You were right, my feet are killing me in these heels.” Beth rested her hand on Gwen’s shoulder for support, lifted her left foot, then removed her shoe. “I’m exhausted, but have to admit they saved the best castle for last. The tour guide is absolutely dreamy and his brogue makes me melt. I wish I could get to know him better.”

Gwen didn’t answer. Instead, she continued to stare at the picture, tuning out her friend’s chatter.

“Here he comes, and he’s looking our way,” Beth whispered on a breathy sigh. She tightened her grip, her nails digging into Gwen’s upper arm. “Maybe I’ll go talk to him for a bit?” When Gwen didn’t respond, she thumped her on the back. “Earth to Gwen. Hello. What are you looking at?”

“I’m sorry, did you say something?” Gwen asked, then faced her friend.

“Are you okay, Gwen? You’re as pale as a ghost, and judging by your wide-eyed expression, you’ve seen one too.”

Gwen dragged a shaky hand across her brow. “I find it really stuffy in here and could use a breath of fresh air.”

Beth glanced at the portrait, then touched Gwen’s cheek. “No wonder you’re staring. You and the woman in the painting could be related, if not twins.”

There was no denying the resemblance. Gwen noticed it the minute she looked at the portrait and the longer she studied it, the harder it became to dismiss likeness as pure coincidence. “What time is it?” She glanced at her watch, then changed the subject. “We’ll have to head back to the hotel soon and pick up Kyle before we go to the pub at eight.”

“It’s only five, so we still have plenty of time before our reservation at the Copper Mug.” Beth glanced over her shoulder at the guide and shot him a come hither glance. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Thomas before we leave. Hopefully, he’ll ask where we’re staying.”

“Thomas?” Gwen teased. 

Beth leaned in close so only Gwen could hear her. “Thomas is the tour guide and he’s looking our way. I think he’s flirting with me. Do you mind if I go talk to him?”

“Who am I to stand in the way of love-at-first-sight?” Gwen laughed and patted Beth on the shoulder. Her friend had always been a sucker for a brawny man with a handsome face, and the Highlanders they’d met in Scotland were gorgeous. “While you do that, I’ll wait for you near the gate. I noticed some stone benches in a rose garden and will be there when you’re done.”

“You’re the best.” Beth quickly kissed Gwen on the cheek, then smoothed her hands down her dress. “Do I look okay?”

“Lovely as always. Go talk to the hunky Highlander and I’ll wait outside.” She glanced up at the portrait again, attempted to suppress her sudden feeling of déjà vu as the product of an over-active imagination, and headed for the door.

Upon leaving the visitor’s center, Gwen tilted her face skyward and inhaled deeply, her mind wandering back to the portrait and the brooch. She swept her hand over the pin on her sweater, then gave her head a shake. “Coincidence and nothing more. For all you know there could be hundreds of these,” she muttered aloud, then headed for a bench in the rose garden that was located near the postern gate.

Gwen sat on the stone seat and pulled the cell phone from her purse. After leaving Kyle a text message, informing him they were running a bit late, she decided to call home before it got too late. The sound of her mother’s voice and her calm cool logic was what she needed to put the silly notions she had about the woman in the picture into perspective. Unfortunately, the phone clicked over to voice mail.

“Hi Mom. I know it is after ten and figured you might be in bed already, but on the off chance I thought you might still be up. I wanted to say hi and to thank you and Dad for the birthday flowers. They’re gorgeous. Miss you and can’t wait to thank you in person. Give Dad a kiss for me.”

She ended the call and as she was about to put the phone back into her bag, she caught a quick glimpse of a little girl—a child no older than five—as she scooted past the gate, then ran toward the woods. Gwen did a quick scan of the area, hoping to locate the child’s parents, but her search came up empty. While it was none of her business, she couldn’t turn her back on a possible child in need, and decided to go after her.

“Wait,” Gwen called out to the red-haired lass as she disappeared into the forest surrounding the castle. Concerned for the girl’s safety, she raced after her, soon finding herself on a well-worn path surrounded by bracken and trees. This is insane, she thought. The girl could live in the area and frequent the castle grounds. But when she heard a child giggling, then saw the girl standing in a clearing a few feet away, Gwen felt compelled to make certain she was safe. If she didn’t and anything happened to her, she’d never forgive herself.

“Wait, sweetie, I won’t hurt you,” Gwen said as she approached the girl with her hand outstretched. “Are you lost? Where are your mommy and daddy? They must be worried sick about you.”

The girl inclined her chin, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. Then from all around them came what sounded like hordes of children laughing.

Gwen immediately turned full circle, but saw no one. “What’s going on? If this is some sort of game, I don’t find it amusing. I—” Gwen was about to explain the dangers of running off from her parents, but halted when the child’s face transformed into that of an old woman for a few seconds, then changed back. This was no ordinary little girl, and if she wasn’t mistaken, she was standing in the center of what according to Scottish lore could be a Fairy Ring.

“Come on, Gwen, get a grip. This is just superstitious nonsense,” she reassured herself aloud. “Either you tell me your name so I can find your parents, or I’m going back to the castle and get the police.” But before she could follow through, her head began to pound as if it were in a vise. She gripped her temples against the pain and dropped to her knees. Her mind clouded and she collapsed to the ground, twilight fading to black.